Sunday, 14 April 2013

Wicklow County Council to hold a Special meeting to discuss the Housing Crisis in the County

Wicklow County Council is set to hold a special meeting on Monday todiscuss the Housing Crisis in the County which has seen an all-timehigh of 4,154 families looking for social housing from Wicklow localauthorities.

Cllr Brady stated "I am glad that the housing crisis that’s affectingso many people in Wicklow is at last getting the recognition that itdeserves at council level. I have been speaking about the problem withhousing for a long time now and unfortunately it has fallen on deafears. The current housing policies of Fine Gael/Labour are compoundingthe problems for families who are on housing lists with the localauthorities in Wicklow. The Government has adopted a policy ofbuilding no more council houses and the level of funding provided tolocal authorities for housing related purposes has been slashed. In2009 Wicklow received €15m for Housing projects, this year theallocation is just €2.4m and the Housing Adaptation grant for peoplewith disabilities has been cut by 40% from €954,794 last year to€567,117 in 2013."

Cllr Brady continued "Applicants on the housing list are soaring for anumber of reasons. The main reason being the failed housing policieswhich the government is perusing, also because of the age structure ofthe population. The cuts to the rent allowance is also forcing peopleout of private rented accommodation. There are 2,700 people in receiptof Rent Supplement in Wicklow at a cost of €16.3m which is paid toprivate landlords. The amount paid to people has been slashed, howeverprivate landlords have not dropped rents to reflect this and theshortfall has to be made up by the tenants which is causing hugedifficulties."

Brady went on to say "What we need is action to tackle the housingcrisis. We have 4,154 families on waiting lists, 2,700 on RentSupplement and 490 on the Rental Accommodation Schemes. This state isin a continuing housing crisis which is leaving the worst off in oursociety sleeping on couches and raising their children in unhealthy,damp and crowded conditions. The government is turning a blind eye tothis, more interested in paying someone else’s bank debt thanproviding for the rights of its people."

Brady concluded "We need a Social Housing Initiative which willstimulate the building and construction industry, both through fundingadditional dwellings and increasing expenditure on repairs andmaintenance. This will help stimulate businesses which supplyconstruction materials and help to retain jobs in the industry. Thestate must use the Pension Reserve Fund, the European Investment Bank,incentivised investment from the private pension sector and socialhousing bonds to raise funds to start to end this crisis finally.According to CSO figures there are 5,422 vacant dwellings in Wicklow,these also need to be utilised as an emergency way of dealing with thehousing list of which over 25% are waiting 5 years or more to behoused. I will be raising all these issues at the special Councilmeeting on Monday and also seeking a meeting with Minister for HousingJan O'Sullivan." Ends